Final answer:
Alexander the Great created an empire through his extensive conquests, military success, and strategic governance. He integrated local traditions with Greek culture, demonstrating respect for conquered peoples and ensuring the loyalty of his new subjects.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alexander the Great's conquered territory indeed qualifies as an empire. By the standards of his time, empire building involved the acquisition and maintenance of vast tracts of land, different peoples, and diverse cultures under a single political structure. Alexander excelled at this, demonstrating both military prowess and political acumen. After defeating the Persian forces at key battles such as Issus and Gaugamela, he claimed the Persian throne and exhibited respect for local customs, thereby securing the loyalty of his new subjects. The resulting entity was the largest empire the world had seen at that point, stretching from Greece and Egypt across to the borders of India. Even when challenged by the sheer size and diversity of the lands and peoples under his rule, Alexander's administration of the empire was characterized by strategic governance—granting concessions to surrendered foes and integrating local traditions with Greek culture, as seen in regions like Egypt under the Ptolemies and in the cultural influences on Gandhara, Afghanistan.